Category Archives: Technology

Mobile Operating Systems, Operating Systems, Technology

Nexus 5

Google fans unite!  Rather, pure-Android fans unite.  Whether you love the Nexus brand or not — it is always great to see another monumental device along with the latest version of Andriod be released around this time of the year.  As a Nexus 4 owner, I am excited for the new features of Android 4.4 (KitKat) as well as the new hardware found on the Nexus 5.

Nexus devices show the market what Android is all about, that is without the skins, colorful overlays and played transitions.  This is stock Android at it’s finest.  Typically OEM skins can slow down your device and leave the user with a poor experience, which in turn leads them to blame the OS, not the OEM.  When in fact you can pick up a Nexus device and always have a wonderful experience.

Nowadays, Android is stable, mature and bold and the software isn’t an issue unless it really brings the device down (Samsung’s TouchWiz, which could be vastly improved if it weren’t for the useless features baked in).  The thing that any Nexus device will not have is extra unwanted bloat, be it from the carrier, OEM or vendor — giving the end user an incredible experience directly from Google.

NEXUS-5

I am ready for the Nexus 5; the next pinnacle of the Android experience.

Operating Systems, Technology

Obama vetoes a Samsung win?

Politicians and technology…..the two should never be used in the same sentence.  Why?  Because typically, politicians are completely oblivious to things in the technology world.  Now, President Obama is known for being a technological president (he carried a Blackberry) and I salute him for that.  However, taking a court win from Samsung to let Apple get suing companies behooves me.

obama_iphoneEssentially, the president vetoed an import ban that was given to Samsung regarding a few Apple devices (iPhone 4S, iPad1 and iPad2).  This win for Samsung has came after Apple began the patent war on anything that is non-Apple.

Is this a loss to Android?  No.  Samsung?  No.  But, due to this turnaround the tech giant lost $1 billion of it’s worth in market value.

Bottom line:  Politicians….please stick to making laws and making the country better.  This isn’t your lane.

 

 

Technology

Verizon could owe Apple

What happens when you don’t sell as many iPhones as Apple would like for you to?  You could owe the Cupertino company some money!  Or at least that is true when it comes to the top wireless carrier in the United States.  I understand that contracts exist between entities of all types from car manufacturers and car lots from PC manufacturers and retailers — they are unavoidable.  Apparently, Verizon “agreed a deal to sell at least US$23.5 billion worth of iPhones in 2013” [Source: http://www.cellular-news.com/story/60982.php ].

Is it particularly Verizon’s fault that it did not sell as many devices as it would have liked?  Yes and no.  Perhaps marketing was not on their side; better yet, maybe iPhones just aren’t selling as well as they used to?  Let’s examine the statistics here, when Apple first released it’s famed iPhone everybody wanted it.  Some left their current carrier to join AT&T because that is the only service that offered the device.  Then, Verizon followed suit and agreed to sell the iPhone 4 — millions were sold.  However, let us take a look at the marketshare for iOS devices and Android devices:

marketshare_mobileAs it is quite easy to tell (perhaps after enlarging the picture) Android is in the lead and isn’t relinquishing hold.  There simply are not enough iPhones in the market.  The gift of Android is that there is simply a device for everyone.

Bottom line: Contracts sometimes are harsh, word of advice to Verizon look at the market before signing another deal with Apple.

Mobile Operating Systems, Technology

Galaxy Mega…. Too big or too right?

A 6.3″ screen attached to a device that is actually a phone.  Is this something that you’d use?

I have big hands and an affinity for devices and honestly this seems like the perfect device for someone like me.  Personally, I own a Galaxy Nexus and a Nexus 7 — if I owned this device I could seemingly par my load down to just one without carrying a phone and tablet everywhere I go.

On a another note, what really makes this a good device? I’d say it is a combination of it’s form factor, specs and functionality. No device is completely useless — hence why there are so many different sizes, prices and storage capacities of smart phones.  The only cause for alarm with this device is the fact that it has mid-range specs; it is apparent that Samsung is not pushing this as an all-star device — although it has the potential to be.

Bottom line:  This device is an excellent device for someone who is looking for sheer screen size; however, for the enthusiast who wants the fastest mobile processor and the most RAM — look elsewhere.  That being said, my excitement is still high for this device.

Mobile Operating Systems, Technology

Samsung, who do you think you are?

Well, it is done.  Samsung unveiled it’s latest and greatest device yet, the Samsung Galaxy S IV.  However, most of us technology buffs are calling it simply a Galaxy SIII refresh, which is quite accurate when you break it down.  When you place each device face up, side-by-side it is quite difficult for any inexperienced onlooker to determine which device is which.

However, the refresh is not the issue here — it is the fact that Samsung appears to be attempting to create their own brand of apps that seemingly “replace” apps that are from Google.  For example:

  • Samsung Hub
  • sVoice
  • sTranslate

These apps are essentially a spin off of Google Play, Google Now and Google Translate respectively and Samsung continues to develop it’s own apps. However, one must stop and think is Samsung trying to branch off from Google?  It certainly appears that way.  On the other hand, where would Samsung be without Google’s Android that is powering all of their high selling devices?

Bottom line:  Google needs to get Samsung to get their act together, Samsung with TouchWiz is NOT Google Android.  It seems that Samsung may be thinking that it can do “this” without Google.